NewsOK: Oklahoma City News, Sports, Weather & Entertainment

Buyer or seller? The Thunder's role is flexible as NBA trade deadline approaches

The gray area between buyer and seller is often alluded to as purgatory. But as the NBA trade deadline approaches Thursday, that gray area has instead afforded the Thunder flexibility.

Oklahoma City entered February sitting comfortably at No. 7 in the Western Conference. Just one game separates the No. 5 (Houston), No. 6 (Dallas) and No. 7 seeds. Then, there’s a 5½-game gap between the Thunder and the No. 8 Grizzlies. Barring an end-of-season collapse, OKC should make the playoffs. But that doesn’t mean it’s looking for an addition to carry it deeper into the postseason. Nor is the Thunder entering tanking season.

“What we want to do is be playing meaningful basketball at the end of the year,” Thunder general manager Sam Presti said back in September. “We want to try to do everything we can to put ourselves in position to optimize the group that we have, and there's just no shortcuts to that.”

Sure enough, the Thunder took a group of players pieced together by unexpected blockbuster trades and won 30 of its first 50 games this season. While Thunder players up and down the roster made strides from last year, injuries plagued expected Western Conference contenders like the Warriors and Trail Blazers.

An eventual Thunder rebuild still looms on the horizon. But for now, OKC is in position to take trade calls and also remain patient.

Danilo Gallinari’s expiring contract provides the only present time constraint. He becomes a free agent this summer, so in order to get any assets back for his likely departure, the Thunder either has to trade him before the deadline, or all parties must agree to a sign-and-trade.

If the deadline passes and OKC’s roster remains the same, expect a shakeup this offseason. Gallinari will be an unrestricted free agent. Point guard Dennis Schroder and center Steven Adams will be entering the last year of their current contracts. More teams will have roster flexibility and salary cap space.

While in the gray area between buyer and seller, the Thunder's activity before the deadline will largely be shaped by what other teams are willing to offer a franchise looking to boost its long-term future. Since the beginning of the season, the Thunder has made one trade, affecting the back end of its roster. OKC sent center Justin Patton and cash considerations to Dallas for 21-year-old forward Isaiah Roby on Jan. 24.

With just a few days before the trade deadline, here are a few other trade partners that might make sense for the Thunder:

Hawks

The trick isn’t finding players that both Atlanta and OKC would be interested in. The Hawks have “discussed” Adams as a possible trade target, according to a report by The Athletic.

Hawks rookies De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish are both exciting prospects who are on the same timeline as Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. But former top-10 overall picks are hard to come by. Would Atlanta be willing to part with one?

76ers

Philadelphia is one of several playoff teams that have “expressed interest” in Gallinari, the Ringer reported last week. So, let’s take a look at the 76ers' assets.

Draft picks are an option, but Matisse Thybulle is Philadelphia's most intriguing prospect. The 6-foot-5 guard has a strong defensive reputation, which the Thunder values. Plus, he’s become more consistent on the offensive end over the past month.

But whether or not the 76ers would include the rookie in a possible deal — forfeiting the process for a playoff run — the biggest hurdle would be finding a way to match salaries without pillaging Philadelphia’s depth.

Suns

The Suns are interested in both Gallinari and Schroder, according to Bleacher Report. Phoenix’s Mikal Bridges is a second-year player who could fit in with the Thunder’s young core. But that’s the problem. He also serves that role on the Suns.

Phoenix is on the rise, with new leadership. But that ascent likely will take some time, making its draft picks more valuable.

General manager Sam Presti, pictured during a Jan. 9 game against the Rockets, said in September he wants the Thunder to "be playing meaningful basketball at the end of the year." [Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman]

Maddie Lee

Maddie Lee followed an NBA team from Seattle to Oklahoma City, she just took a 10-year detour in between. Lee joined the Oklahoman in October 2018 as a Thunder beat writer, fresh off a stint in Oxford, Miss., where she covered Ole Miss for the...
Read more ›